Okay, I've just about quit selling hay!

[Jimbrown]

This is really uncommon and I don't know what a hay grower can do about it but it was a real tragedy to my wife and the person she sold this horse too. Happened last week.

A great animal died last Sunday for an extremely rare reason. Botulism. I have been dealing with horses for 40 years and never heard of it in horses.

My wife bought this horse right after he was imported from Amsterdam and trained him for 6 or 7 years. He was magnificent. She only sold him after she was injured by another horse (broken hip) and was no longer strong enough to ride him.

The new owner qualified him for the Arizona State Championship and was supposed to be in Tucson this weekend. The wife noticed he was not on the entry list and accidently came across the new trainer and ask why he was not in Tucson. The surprise answer. He died last Sunday from botulism.



Instant heart break. Apparently the botulism is caused when the hay baling machine picks up an infected animal (probably a rat) and bales it in the hay and then the horse eats the shredded rat.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYKWw3UtiJU

 

[ultrarunner]

I've never owned horses, although my brother has for years and Mom's side with the farm has.

There is a boarding barn almost a stone's throw from my brother's place and the boarders are extremely picky... did I say picky?

My brother has a 40 acre pasture with a couple of old horses the previous owner had put out to pasture...

Outside of water and twice a year vet check ups these horses are on their own... no feed, no supplements, only eat what they can forage and in drought stricken California the pickings were slim the last few years.

They are friendly and when the kids happen to hike back with a carrot or apple... the horses are just like a puppy that follows you around.

As a non horse person it just seems there are a lot of people that go way overboard...

 

[ultrarunner]

I've never owned horses, although my brother has for years and Mom's side with the farm has.

There is a boarding barn almost a stone's throw from my brother's place and the boarders are extremely picky... did I say picky?

My brother has a 40 acre pasture with a couple of old horses the previous owner had put out to pasture...

Outside of water and twice a year vet check ups these horses are on their own... no feed, no supplements, only eat what they can forage and in drought stricken California the pickings were slim the last few years.

They are friendly and when the kids happen to hike back with a carrot or apple... the horses are just like a puppy that follows you around.

As a non horse person it just seems there are a lot of people that go way overboard...

 

[WM75Guy]

As a non horse person it just seems there are a lot of people that go way overboard...

You have no idea. They are called barn or dressage queens. :laughing:

 

[WM75Guy]

As a non horse person it just seems there are a lot of people that go way overboard...

You have no idea. They are called barn or dressage queens. :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

Or folks with more money than sense... (Well at $23 a bail maybe they have to have money)

Back in the 40's dad ran a riding stable at Stateline Lake Tahoe...

He has plenty of horse experience and would just shake his head at heated stalls/blankets and such in the mild Bay Area climate...

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Back in the 40's dad ran a riding stable at Stateline Lake Tahoe...

He has plenty of horse experience and would just shake his head at heated stalls/blankets and such in the mild Bay Area climate...

Well, I don't have horses ... but ... "IF" I did .....

As with any animals in my care, I would treat them humanely, with respect and care. I wouldn't bat an eye at providing them a heated stall.

Country life is somewhat new to me, and I've found those who grew up in the environment often have a completely different take on their animals. They see them as inventory. This concept is foreign to me and I'll never evolve to that point of view. Even if your animals are destined to be food, they deserve to be treated properly. God made us stewards of His Creation and, to me, indifference is not being a good steward.

 

[ultrarunner]

My brothers horses are RushCreek Arabs that were born and raised on the prairie just like wild Mustangs... it's one of the traits that make them sought after.

He lives in the SF Bay Area... no snow or ice here... it must be like a tropical vacation for them.

Many times things done to be humane often turn out the other way...

One of the Universities did a study on why barn kept horses had more problems and it zeroed in on the elevation of the hay feeders... in the wild, horses spend a lot of their time with their nose at ground level when foraging which promotes sinus drainage... they don't get this natural benefit when food is chest high...

Old Maggie, one of the horses that is out all year and forages is in remarkable condition and the vet attributes it to the natural life she lives being out in the pasture with 40 acres to room vs. being coddled in a barn environment...

Same with our dogs at home... typically they are healthy 16 or more years... they are outside 99% of the time and extremely healthy.... co-workers with dogs from the same liter all have had problems... their dogs are inside 99% of the time and even have heating pads... hope one never chews the pad and gets electrocuted...

 

[holeycow]

sorry to hear about the horse Jimbrown. The toughest animals and the most at-risk all at the same time they are.

 

[RickB]

Well, I don't have horses ... but ... "IF" I did .....

As with any animals in my care, I would treat them humanely, with respect and care. I wouldn't bat an eye at providing them a heated stall.

Country life is somewhat new to me, and I've found those who grew up in the environment often have a completely different take on their animals. They see them as inventory. This concept is foreign to me and I'll never evolve to that point of view. Even if your animals are destined to be food, they deserve to be treated properly. God made us stewards of His Creation and, to me, indifference is not being a good steward.

Interesting that this post is based on one person's version of 'proper treatnent'. The notion that the vast majority of those who care for animals and in fact rely on them as a means of support as a group do not have the aminal's best interest at heart is, in fact, offensive but unfortunately all too prevalent. SPCA's across the nation get countless complaints about animal owners 'abusing' livestock by providing a level of care that is normal, accepted and completely appropriate.